Significance of Human Papillomavirus in Head and Neck Cancers

© 2015 Harborside Press® Over 45,000 Americans are estimated to be newly diagnosed with cancer of the oral cavity and pharynx in 2015, and an estimated 8,650 will die of the disease (Siegel, Miller, & Jemal, 2015). It is well known that the combination of smoking and alcohol use increases the risk for developing head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma is a general term that encompasses cancers of the nasal cavity, sinuses, lips, mouth, salivary glands, throat, and larynx. HNSCC has been considered to be a cancer predominantly seen in men of older age (National Cancer Institute [NCI], 2013). The current trends, deaths, and survival rates demonstrate a modest decrease in HNSCC from 1975 to 2006 (NCI, 2015). However, despite this general decrease, research demonstrates that oropharyngeal-specific cancers are rising (American Cancer Society, 2015; Gillison et al., 2012). Currently, there is evidence that tissue collected from patients diagnosed with head and neck cancer may be positive for human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA, particularly cancers of the oropharyngeal site (Mehanna et al., 2013). The oropharynx refers to the middle part of the throat behind the mouth, including the back third of the tongue, the soft palate, the side and back walls of the throat, and the tonsils (NCI, 2015). According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC, 2013), 79 million people have HPV, and over 14 million cases are newly diagnosed each year. This virus is associated with cancer of the cervix, vagina, penis, and anus. The exact incidence of HPV-positive HNSCC is unknown and could be largely misrepresented because current practice does not support testing all HNSCC for HPV status. Currently, the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program (SEER) does not specify HPV status in statistics on oral cavity and pharynx cancers. However, according to the CDC (2014a), an estimated 72% of oropharyngeal cancers may be attributed to HPV infections, with more than 2,370 new cases diagnosed in women and nearly 9,356 new cases diagnosed in men every year in the United States.